Gonzalo Higuain said AC Milan technical director Leonardo was the main reason why he joined the club from Juventus and that he did not feel forced out by the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

Higuain was presented by Milan player on Friday, less than 24 hours after joining the club on an initial loan deal worth €18 million that has a €36m option to make the move permanent next year.

“I knew Leonardo before and certain he had a big influence on me arriving,” Higuain said. “He convinced me with his words, his faith in me. It was one of the biggest motivating factors for me coming here, and he knows I am grateful to him for me coming here.

“[Juventus coach Massimiliano] Allegri is a coach I had for two years. We had a few differences, but that is not what brought me here — what brought me here was the conviction Leonardo showed. I won two Scudettos and two Coppa Italias. It was fantastic.”

Higuain’s future at Juve was shrouded in doubt following the arrival of Ronaldo, who made the €100m move earlier this month, but he said he did not feel like he was forced to leave the club.

Rather, he said, he left because he wanted a new challenge.

“I’ve played with [Ronaldo] before, but I have no regrets [about not playing with him this season],” Higuain said. “I’m excited about this new challenge, to be honest, and this is all that matters. I want to help get Milan as high as possible.

“I can only spend words of thanks to the Juventus fans. I had two beautiful years there and I can only thank them.”

Higuain made the move to Milan with Mattia Caldara, and their signings have raised the enthusiasm level among fans — and within Higuain himself.

“I have a lot of faith in this Milan team,” he said. “They impressed me already last season with the way they played. I have been playing in a club who were used to winning, but Milan’s history is decorated by what they have won and I am here to take them back to the top. I hope we can go as far as we can this season. I’m very happy to be here.

“I’m very excited about this new adventure and I just want to prove to those who made this investment in me that I’m worth it. We’ve got to believe in what we can do — if we believe we can go far, then we can go far.”

Higuain trained for three days at Juve’s new Continassa training centre before travelling to Milan, and on Thursday, he said his eyes were opened as he entered Milanello — Milan’s training centre — for the first time.

“I’ve been playing in Europe for 11 years and entering Milanello, it was the training centre which has fascinated me the most,” Higuain said. “It gave me goosebumps — it’s a really special place.

“But I’m not the star here. The team is the star; everybody is important here. I’ve come here to help everybody take Milan as high as possible. I’m a player who wants to help this team grow.”

Amid Higuain’s praise, Leonardo said convincing the striker to join Milan was not difficult.

“Milan are a hugely fascinating club,” Leonardo said. “I didn’t have to convince him. It is just the way it is: Milan fascinates people. Milan have, in their DNA, a style which will remain forever, and this is something which can convince a player like him to come here in a flash.”

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